Your Mashup Is Probably Legal

TV Barn writes "We've been conditioned to think that if you pull something off the web and use it, you're committing some sort of copyright infringement. But increasingly, the law is moving in the opposite direction. Provided you are making a truly new use of the content, you are free to make money off those copyrighted images and video and sound. On Monday the Center for Social Media released 'Code of Best Practices for Fair Use in Online Video,' which reflects the latest changes in copyright law that has expanded the understanding of fair use to include 'transformational effect.' Already Miro has endorsed the guidelines, as have several public broadcasters. The Center has a good track record, having issued guidelines for documentary filmmakers that have greatly reduced copyright claims in that area. The website has plenty of resources for mashers and mixers; I interviewed the Center's director in this podcast that summarizes the most important findings of the report." On the other hand, says reader kaliphonia, your guitar tablature sites may not fare so well.

Alright!

[Anonymous Coward]

So my Mickey Mouse / Prince hentei slash rape movie set in the Palladium universe using music from Metallica is perfectly legal. Sweet. Intertube fame, here I come!

So my Harry Potter Cho Chang sex video

[antifoidulus]

is legal now?

but...

[owlnation]

"Your Mashup Is Probably Legal"

However, if you use the word "mashup" you're probably a jerk.

Re:Why any attempt to define "Fair Use" is pointle

[phobos13013]

I think the poster was trying to point out SCOTUS, which in the end of any lawsuit involving this will be the final naysayer to free use. Although, there was a different time... [wikipedia.org]

Re:...in which country?

[mapsjanhere]

The USA really needs a "Strengthening The Fair Use" -act.